I. Give In to Me
The thing was that, even though JC was flawless on so many levels, it was hard to hate him, no matter how much you really wanted to. Because, part of his perfection was that he didn't even realize how perfect he was. He even had moments of complete dorkiness that would have tarnished anyone else's image, but, on him, were endearing because they were so pure and simple. The man had no ego regarding his beauty or his talent, and no shame about his goofy laugh or incoherent ramblings, and, to top it off, he would hold your heart and celebrate your mind in a way that made you feel guilty if you even attempted to hate him. In short, Chris was in love with him and really had no idea how much longer he could contain his feelings for the child-man who shared his tour bus and his life.
Sometimes, his feelings overwhelmed him, and he'd lash out in frustration, making a snide remark during an interview when JC laughed too enthusiastically or talked too long. And JC would smile, but you could see the light fade out of his eyes, like a candle flickers into dark. Afterwards, Joey or Justin would corner Chris and yell at him and call him an asshole because they all knew that JC wouldn't say anything at all. In fact, he'd probably blame himself and bake Chris some gingerbread cookies or buy 3 matching collars - one for Busta, one for Korea, and one for Chris - which he would leave on Chris' bunk without a word of explanation.
After The Rosie Show, JC left his sweater on Chris' bed because Chris had mocked it so mercilessly for the crocheted hummingbirds on it. JC included a note that time telling Chris that he could dispose of it as he saw fit since he hated it so much. But the sweater had smelled like JC. Not cologne, which JC didn't wear, but his natural odor that you could only smell if he hugged you or if you knelt by his bunk at night, your chin resting on the mattress as you studied his profile and the gentle rise and fall of his smooth, bare chest.
Chris kept the sweater in a garbage bag under his mattress for the rest of the tour, and when the tour was over, and he didn't see JC every day, he would put the sweater on while he masturbated onto his pillow. Then, he'd take it off, being careful not to get any of his own semen on it, and return it to its hiding place in his closet before cleaning himself up and washing his pillowcase for the umpteenth night in a row.
And then, JC had let his hair grow long, which Chris thought would drive him crazy it looked so sexy in that way that only JC could pull off. And it probably would have, except that, once they went back to the studio, JC developed the habit of curling up on the sofa and resting his head on Chris' thigh. And Chris developed the habit of gently twisting JC's hair around his fingers while JC tapped a quiet rhythm on Chris' leg, his long, slim fingers grazing lightly over the black knee brace or smooth denim of his jeans.
When touring started again, Justin wanted his own bus. Chris and JC were now alone on their bus, so it became easier for Chris to study him without getting caught. He'd watch JC stretched out in the sunlight like a cat, his keyboard and notebook sitting next to his head while he yawned and stretched in the warmth. And when inspiration struck, he'd pick up his pen and write. Some days, JC would forget to get dressed after his shower and would bask in the sun with only a towel wrapped around his waist. Soon, the towel would slip off and lie discarded on the floor as he wiggled, naked and unembarrassed, on the leopard skin couch, and Chris would sink lower behind his laptop and cross his legs to hide the hard lump growing in his pants.
But, the thing was, no matter how much Chris wanted to hold him, caress him, give in to him, he wasn't going to say anything. And not for any noble reason like he wanted to save their friendship. Because, in all honesty, he and JC were probably the least close of any two members of the group. The fact of the matter was, why would someone as beautiful and perfect as JC want someone like Chris? Chris, with his slightly big ears and his layer of pudge. Chris, with his jittery hands and fidgety knees. That was the problem. Chris didn't care about the group's reaction at all. If he was taller, or thinner, or prettier, or, well say, Justin, he would have gone for it in a heartbeat. Chris was far from noble, but very close to realistic.
One morning midway through their Pop Odyssey, Chris woke up to the smell of coffee wafting through the bus, which was odd, because, even if JC did get up first, he very rarely thought to make coffee. Not that he was inconsiderate. It just wouldn't occur to him until Chris would stumble into the front room and ask him if there was any made. Then, JC would blush a crimson shade and scurry around to locate the filters and the French Vanilla creamer that Chris liked in his first cup of the day, but not in any of the dozen cups that followed.
Chris pushed back the curtain that separated the sections of the bus and smiled at the sight before him. Apparently, JC had gotten up, taken a shower, started the coffee, and fallen back asleep while he was waiting for it to brew, because there he was curled up on the couch, his green towel loose around his hips and his hair sticking up wildly all over his head.
Chris crossed to the counter quietly and noticed that JC had already set out Chris' favorite mug and the carton of creamer. He picked up the cup that JC had bought for him the last time they were at Disney World. It had a picture of Timon and Pumba from The Lion King on it and said in red block letters "Charlie's Coffee" because, as JC explained when he gave it to him, they had been all out of "Chris" cups, and "Charlie" was the closest he could find.
Chris poured the creamer into his mug, and then filled it with coffee. When he turned around, he noticed that JC was wearing headphones. He crossed the room and gently removed them, knowing that JC would probably manage to get the cord tangled around his neck and choke to death, and that Lance would probably blame Chris for not doing something about it when he had the chance.
JC mumbled and turned over, rolling away from the wall, and Chris drew in his breath as JC's towel loosened further across the indentation of his pelvic bone.
Chris was going to turn off the CD player and walk away, but the gentle melody caught his attention. He slipped the headphones over his ears and sank to the floor, ending up Indian style facing JC's sleeping form. The voice was wistful and haunting, and Chris let his eyes travel JC's body as he listened to the woman singing the tender lyrics.
JC's hand rested softly on his belly, and Chris followed the curve of his arm upward, letting his gaze linger on the smooth, manly expanse of JC's shoulder.
The woman continued singing to her would be lover.
Chris' eyes roamed back to JC's face, and he inhaled sharply. JC's eyes were open. A smile played on his lips as he watched Chris watching him.
Chris' hand went up to the headphones. "I was just..." he started as he pulled them off his ears. "This is beautiful. Who is this?"
"Fairground Attraction," JC replied, his voice still thick with sleep.
"Oh."
"Which song?" JC asked. He reached out toward Chris' face. Chris pulled back, startled and a little afraid that JC would hit him for staring so openly and lustfully at his near-nude body. "Hold still," JC said softly. His hand rested on Chris' cheek as his thumb gently rubbed the corner of Chris' eye. "Eye boogers," he said with a shy smile.
"Oh," Chris said, his voice barely a whisper. "Thank you."
JC withdrew his hand and wiped his thumb on the towel at his waist. He cleaned the other eye and rolled over onto his stomach, clutching the pillow to his chest and resting it under his chin. The towel was now open, and Chris could see the bare skin of JC's hip, sleek and creamy against the dark green terry cloth.
"So," JC said. "Which song?"
"Um. The one about the kite. The heart is a kite thing." Chris remembered he was still holding his coffee cup, so he brought it to his lips and took a small sip.
JC smiled. "I love that one. It's so perfect. Especially the 'we'll kiss the first of a million kisses' line. God. I love that line. I wish I'd written that line."
"Yeah." Chris took another sip of coffee. "It's pretty good. Not nearly as good as 'we'll get nasty, nasty. We'll get freaky deaky,' but..."
JC sat up and threw his pillow at Chris. It hit his hand, and coffee spilled all over the front of his FuMan shirt and onto his lap.
Chris jumped up, dropping his mug on his toes in the process. "Fuck!" he exclaimed as he hopped up and down on one foot.
JC leapt off the couch and crossed to Chris. "Sorry. Oh, God. I'm sorry," he said, dabbing at Chris' chest with the towel that had been around his waist.
"It's okay."
"No. It's not."
"Here," Chris grabbed JC's wrist. In spite of the scalding liquid on his stomach and thighs, JC's hand on his chest was causing his groin to stir. "I can do it."
"But, I want to help," JC said, grabbing the hem of Chris' shirt and pulling it up over his head. JC took the garment over to the sink and began running cold water on it.
Chris rubbed the towel slowly over his chest, watching Naked-JC wring his shirt out and hold it up to examine it.
"Boxers?" JC said when he was satisfied with his handiwork.
"Huh?"
"Your boxers. They have coffee on them too. Do you want me to...?"
"No!" Chris said more emphatically then he needed to. "No. That's okay. I can take care of them."
"So. Are you mad, you know, at me?"
Chris smiled. "I got what I deserved. I shouldn't have made that crack about 'Digital Getdown'. It was karmic payback or something."
JC looked down at his hands and shuffled from one foot to the other. The silence between them was awkward.
"You know. You don't have to wish you'd written somebody else's stuff," Chris said after a minute. "Your own stuff is pretty good." He cleared his throat.
JC looked up. "Really?"
"Yeah. 'The Two of Us' is my favorite song on the new album."
JC's grin covered his entire face.
Chris coughed nervously. "I mean, if I could have written any song, it would have been that one."
This time, the silence that hung in the room wasn't so bad.
"Well," Chris finally said. "I'm going to go find some dry underpants."
He turned to go, when slim finger caught his wrist. He wasn't' sure how JC had crossed the room so quickly, but, when he turned around, the younger man was right next to him.
Chris looked into JC's eyes, unable to read what he saw there before JC let his lids flutter closed and leaned forward. JC's lips brushed softly against his own, and Chris' mouth fell open, allowing JC's warm, slippery tongue to slide in and gently, but urgently, wrestle against his own.
Chris' hand moved to JC's back, and their naked chests rubbed against each other with delicious friction.
JC pulled back and smiled, bringing his arms up to rest on Chris' shoulders. "999,999 more to go," he whispered before sinking back into another slow, luxurious, beautifully perfect kiss.
II. Space Cowboy
Chris lay curled on his side on the floor of the bus, one hand fisted beneath his ear and the other hand plucking gently at the stray strands of hair resting on JC's forehead. JC's eyes fluttered open, and Chris held his breath. "Here it comes," he thought to himself. "The beginning of the end. The moment when JC realizes what a big mistake this was and starts making excuses why this can never be."
Apparently though, JC had other thoughts, because he smiled up at Chris and grabbed his hand. Slowly, JC kissed each of Chris' fingers.
"Hey," Chris finally said to break the silence.
JC turned Chris' hand over and kissed his palm. "Hmm?"
"Um. Do we need to talk?"
JC turned his palm over. "About what?" he asked as he kissed each knuckle.
"About what just happened."
JC kissed the inside of Chris' wrist before dropping his hand. "Why?"
Chris rolled his eyes. "Because we just...we've never...that was..."
JC turned his head and began kissing the soft flesh of Chris' belly.
"Stop that!"
"Why?"
"You're making it hard for me to think."
"That's not all I'm making hard. Chris Jr. is poking the back of my neck."
"JC!"
JC smiled up at Chris. "Do you want to talk, or are you in the mood to take a ride?"
"Yes."
JC laughed. "That wasn't one of your options."
"But I want to do both. I want to talk, and I want to..."
JC pushed himself off of Chris and crawled up to lie next to him. "Talking will only complicate things."
"Things are already complicated."
JC pushed Chris' eyebrows in the opposite direction of their normal growth pattern and then smoothed them out again. "No, they're not."
"How can you say that?"
"Because," JC said, placing a kiss on Chris' nose. "I have to kiss you 999,947 more times."
"What?"
"We've kissed 53 times in the last two hours. Those were the first of our million kisses. When we've kissed a million times, then we'll talk. Until then, it's simple. We'll just take life from day to day and play the rest of it by ear."
Chris smiled. "You're goofy."
JC grinned and rubbed his head under Chris' chin. "I know. It's one of my more endearing qualities." He kissed Chris' collarbone.
"What about the guys?" Chris asked, closing his eyes as JC's lips trailed down his chest.
"I don't want to kiss them any times," JC said as his lips gently brushed Chris' nipple. His tongue flicked out to tease it until it was hard and firm beneath the warm moisture.
Chris inhaled deeply. When he spoke, his voice was thick and wavery. "Should we tell them?"
"No," JC said as his mouth moved to Chris' other nipple.
"So, we should keep it a secret from them?"
JC licked down the center of Chris' chest, over his stomach, and down the top of his stiffening organ. He stopped, letting the head of Chris' cock rest on the thin strip of hair on his chin. "Not necessarily."
"So, we should...?"
"Let them figure it out on their own." JC smiled. "Now. Do you want to keep talking about the rest of the band, or do you want to shut up, put my mouth to the test, and experience the best blowjob of your life?"
Chris could only moan in reply, his straining erection all ready to get inside of JC's hot, wet mouth.
"Why..." Chris groaned, but lost his train of thought when JC's tongue began to swirl languidly around the head of his cock.
"I...I..." he managed to get out as JC paid attention to the sensitive indentation just below his slit. He twined his fingers into JC's hair and thrust his hips upward into the sweet suction that JC was creating as he plunged his lips down to the base of Chris' manhood.
"Yes...Please...I...Aaaah..." Chris' orgasm squirted hot and hard into JC's willing mouth, as he melted even further into the carpeting of the tour bus.
III. Up Against the Wall
Joey found out about a week later, but only because he ran out of gel and was in such a rush due to his hair emergency that he didn't even bother to knock on Chris' door. He just barged into the dressing room unannounced and was startled to find that the shorter man had JC pushed up against the wall while his hands groped into JC's boxers and his own pants lay bunched around his ankles.
" Hey, Joe," JC said, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
Chris' back stiffened, but JC's hand held his head in place, not allowing him to turn and look at Joey standing in the doorway.
"Did you need something?" JC asked casually.
"Um. Gel. I gotta have some more...gel to fix my hair."
JC's free hand pointed toward the bathroom.
"Oh, God," Chris whispered when Joey exited into the other room "What are we going to do?"
JC's hands moved to Chris' cheeks. "Well, as soon as Joey leaves, you're going to finish what you started."
"But..."
JC's mouth silenced him. "It's okay."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Joey entered the room again, pretending not to notice that Chris' hands were still in JC's underwear. "Thanks," he mumbled, heading toward the door.
"Hey, Joe," Chris said.
"Yeah?" Joey said without turning around.
"Lock the door on your way out." He was pretty sure they started grinding before he even made it through the door.
Joey practically sprinted down to Lance's dressing room.
"Oh my God," he panted when Lance opened the door. "You're not going to believe what I just walked in on."
"Chris and JC getting nasty?"
"What? How did you...?"
"Oh, please. I've had the room next to Chris' for the last three stops. Let's just say that the freaks sure do come out at night."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. JC can make Chris scream like a banshee."
"So. When did all this start?"
Lance smiled and went back to plucking his eyebrows. "Not sure. Although Chris has had it pretty bad for C since...well, since before he and Dani broke up."
"Really?" Joey asked, absently picking up an eyeliner pencil from the counter and twirling it between his fingers.
"Oh yeah."
"I never would have guessed."
"That's because you never pay attention."
Joey's fingers stilled. "Hey!"
Lance laughed. "You know I'm just kidding."
Joey stared at Lance until Lance's eyes focused on him in the mirror. "What?"
"Justin?"
"Oh, God no."
"Really?"
"Completely clueless." Lance chuckled to himself. "Even more than you. Although his is more self-centered whereas yours is more... not wanting to know too much."
"Should we...?"
"I wouldn't."
"Why?"
Lance put down the tweezers and turned to face Joey. "Chris is Justin's best friend."
"So?"
"So. If he finds out that we knew before he did, he'll feel betrayed."
"Well, maybe he does know. Maybe Chris told him."
"I doubt it." Lance resumed his tweezing.
"Why?"
"Justin couldn't keep his mouth shut to save his life. If he knew, we'd know that he knew."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"So, what should we do?"
"Well, I don't think they're trying to hide it or anything. I mean, they aren't being very subtle about it."
"I'll say."
"I think we should just wait. He'll catch on eventually."
"But, how do you think he'll react?"
Lance sighed and set the tweezers down. "I don't know, Joe. And, quite frankly, it makes me a little nervous."
IV. Messed Around
The first thing Justin noticed was the numbers. Like, when he and Chris were sitting on the floor playing video games, JC would flop down on the couch behind them and smell the back of Chris' neck or something. The, he would whisper a number into Chris' ear, and Chris would smile and push JC's head away and call him a dork.
Or the time they were in the green room at "The Tonight Show" and Chris and JC were wrestling on the floor. "I swear, you'll never learn. I am the master," Chris said as he pinned JC and licked his cheek while JC giggled hysterically and squirmed around underneath Chris' knees.
"What, no number?" Chris leered down at him.
"That doesn't count," JC protested.
"Why not?"
JC bucked his hips trying to get Chris off of him. "That was a lick. That's a completely different category."
Chris laughed. "I think it should count."
JC suddenly flipped Chris over, knocking into Justin's chair in the process.
"Hey!" Justin protested without looking up from his magazine. "Knock it off." He heard Chris and JC get up and head out into the hallway, and, a second later, he heard JC whispering something that sounded like 999,262.
And then, it occurred to Justin that JC didn't wrestle, so that was also odd. He would have asked them about it after the show, but, while he was changing, they disappeared. When he asked Lonnie where they had gone, Lonnie said something about an art gallery, which sounded a lot like JC, but almost nothing like Chris.
There were other things that Justin noticed, too. Like how JC started going to amusement parks with him and Chris instead of sleeping until sound check. Or how Chris started going to Café's for lunch with JC instead of to Taco Bell with him and Joey. Or the time that Chris chose to go see "Moulin Rogue" with JC instead of "Shrek" with the rest of them after JC whispered something about Alainis Morisette and "You Oughta Know".
It was almost the end of the tour by the time he got around to asking Joey about it. He was lying on the floor in Joey's' room, playing with Brianna whom Kelly had brought in for a weekend visit.
"So, what's going on with Chris and C?" Justin asked. He was lying on his back and holding the baby's wriggling body at arms length above him.
Joey blanched a little bit. "What do you mean?"
Justin crossed his eyes, and the little girl giggled. "Well. They're always hanging out. I mean. When did that happen? I thought they didn't like each other all that much."
"They like each other."
"Well, yeah. I didn't mean...they just...they've never been close or anything."
"Yeah? And?"
"Well, now, all of a sudden, they're like best friends or something. It's weird."
Joey picked up some toys off the floor and threw them onto the bed, remaining conspicuously silent.
"And, what's with the number thing?" Justin asked, lowering the baby to his chest.
"What number thing?"
"That thing JC is always doing. Whenever he and Chris are together, he's always whispering numbers."
"Oh, you mean whenever they kiss? Yeah, that is kinda strange."
"What?" Justin sat up.
Joey's eyes widened. "What what?"
Justin set the baby on the floor next to him. "Whenever they what?"
"Nothing."
"No. You said whenever they..."
"No, I didn't." Joey scooped up the baby and sniffed her diaper. "Does she need changing?"
"Don't change the subject. You just said they kiss."
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did. You said JC and Chris are kissing. Why are JC and Chris kissing?"
"They'rebofrsomthg." Joey mumbled.
"They're what?" Justin stood up.
"Boyfriends or something. I don't know exactly."
"But when...what the...where...?"
Joey sighed as he lay Brianna on the bed and fished through the diaper bag for a clean diaper. "Look, Justin. I don't really know. Okay. We've never actually talked about it or anything."
"Then how do you know...?"
"I walked in on them once."
"Walked in on them...what?"
"They were...and Chris had his hands...and...they were kissing...and..."
"Well, what did they say?"
"Nothing, really. They just told me to lock the door when I left."
"So you didn't ask them...?"
"No. They just seemed so casual about the whole thing."
"Well, why didn't you tell me?" Justin began to pace around the room.
"Because Lance said..."
"Lance knows too?"
"Yeah. He says they're loud when they...you know."
"They...you know? When did they start you knowing?"
"Um...well, I'm not sure, but I've known for about a month now."
"A month!" Justin stopped in his tracks. "This has been going on for a month and I'm just now finding out about it?"
"Well..."
"Well, what?"
"Well, you are kind of..."
"What, Joe?"
"You've been livin' in a fantasy ever since you and Britney...messed around. And you haven't really been paying attention to what's going on."
"Yeah, but...I mean, they're two of my best friends. And you and Lance are two of my other best friends. You'd think someone could have told me."
"Well, it wasn't my place to say anything because...I don't really know what's going on myself."
Justin sighed and flopped down into the armchair. "JC and Chris."
"Yup."
"It's just so strange."
"Not really. I mean, it kind of makes sense, I guess."
"How? In some sort of parallel Bizarro world?"
"Well, opposites attract. And you don't really get more opposite than Chris and JC."
"True."
"And they seem happy. This is the most content Chris has been since he and Dani broke up." Joey finished securing his daughter's diaper and scooped her up off the bed.
"Really?"
"God, yes. Where have you been?"
"I've been here. I was just..."
"Completely self-absorbed."
"Joey!"
"Well, I'm sorry, but it's true."
"Is that why they didn't tell me?"
Joey crossed to Justin and set Brianna on Justin's lap. "I think they've found something special, and they just aren't ready to talk about it yet."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. So, if you decide to say something to them, make sure it isn't stupid, okay?"
"C'mon, Joe. Give me a little credit," Justin replied, smiling sarcastically.
V. Selfish
In retrospect, Justin decided that, even if what he had asked had been a little less, well, stupid, maybe the breakfast table hadn't been the best place to ask it. Especially given the reaction of the four faces staring back at him. Joey had choked on his orange juice and sworn loudly when it squirted out his nose. Lance had dropped his head onto the table and covered it with his napkin. Chris had turned a sort of gray/green color, and he looked like he might pass out or vomit at any given moment. And JC, well, JC had smiled, shrugged and continued to spread marmalade onto his English muffin.
Justin sank down in his chair. "What? It was an honest question," he mumbled.
"Well, it's kind of..." JC began, setting the knife down.
"JC!" Joey and Lance screamed in unison.
"What?"
Lance sat up straight. "I do not want to hear all of the details of your sex life before I've finished my first cup of coffee."
"Actually," Joey interrupted, "I don't ever need to hear the details."
Justin shot up in his chair. "I wasn't asking for a blow by blow description..."
JC started to snicker.
Justin's eyes widened in horror. "I didn't mean blow, like blow...I meant...Oh, never mind. I just asked how they decided who got to be on top. What's wrong with that?"
Chris finally managed to speak. "So, I guess you all know?"
"Yup."
"Uh-huh."
"Well, you are kind of...loud."
"Oh, God," Chris got up and ran to the bathroom.
JC looked at his three friends. "Um. I...I'll be right back." He got up and followed Chris' path out of the room.
Joey smacked Justin on the back of the head. "Nice going, doofus."
"What? So forgive me for not knowing how to be tactful when my two straight best friends start screwing around," Justin pouted as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Think they'll be all right," Lance asked, staring down the hallway.
"I hope so," Joey said softly.
JC knocked tentatively on the door before opening it and slipping inside.
Chris was sitting in the bathtub with his arms around his knees. The shower was running, but he seemed to have forgotten to remove his clothes.
JC shut off the water and sat on the edge of the tub. "You all right?" he asked, reaching out to run a hand through Chris' wet hair.
"I don't think so."
"I'm sorry."
Chris' teeth began chattering lightly. "What for? That they found out?"
"No," JC said, standing up and grabbing a towel off the rack. "I'm sorry that I embarrass you."
Chris looked up quickly. "You don't..."
JC reached down and began pulling Chris' shirt over his head. "It's okay. I understand." He helped Chris stand up and remove his sweatpants. "You've always had to watch out for me and make sure that I wasn't too..."
"JC, no. It's not...I...how could you think you embarrass me. I mean, you're perfect. How could...?"
"Who's perfect?" JC said as he led Chris out of the tub and knelt in front of him to dry his legs and feet.
"You are," Chris whispered. He put a hand on JC's shoulder to steady himself. "That's why I...I mean, I know they're all out there thinking, 'What the hell is JC doing with Chris. He could do so much better.'"
"What?"
"It's true. I mean, look at you. You're beautiful. And talented. And smart. And look at me. I'm...not any of those things." Chris pulled JC up so that they were standing face to face. "And you deserve that. All of it. And so much more."
JC smiled and kissed Chris on the tip of his nose. "I don't want...perfect." JC lifted the towel to Chris' head and began drying his hair.
"C'mon, C. Of course you do," Chris said from somewhere inside the white terrycloth. "Everybody wants perfect."
JC began toweling Chris shoulders and chest. "I don't. All I want is your love." He leaned in and covered Chris' mouth with his own.
Chris pulled back and looked at him. "How do you know that that'll be enough?"
JC smiled. "Cause I've searched my soul and know that it's you that's been missing all along. You...feel right. I've always loved you, but now, it's so much more."
"Until something better comes along."
JC draped the towel around Chris' neck. "I'm not Danielle. I don't want you to be someone else. I don't want you to change for me. I'm in love with you because of who you are, not in spite of it."
"You're in love with me?"
"Pretty much."
Chris leaned in to JC's shoulder. "So...what exactly are we?"
JC rested his forehead against Chris'. "We're Chris and JC."
Chris screwed up his face and stuck out his tongue. "But, what does that mean?"
"It means," JC said, kissing him gently, "That there are no rules. We are unique and special. And, we can make it up as we go along."
"That's very..."
"What?"
"You."
"Is that bad?"
"Not at all," Chris said, stretching his neck forward to capture JC's bottom lip between his teeth.
There was a knock on the door. Justin pushed it open and stuck his head in. "Eew!" he shrieked as he covered his eyes. "Naked Chris. There's Naked, Naked-Chris and Molesting-JC and kissing."
JC smiled. "That's not Molesting-JC," he said. "This is Molesting-JC." His hand slipped down Chris' back and cupped his buttocks.
Chris blushed and pulled the towel off his neck. He secured it around his waist. "I really need to teach you how to lock the door behind you," he said as he flipped down the lid and sat down on the toilet.
"So," Joey said as he and Lance pushed their way past Justin. "Is everything okay in here?"
Chris smiled at JC and reached over to grab his hand. "I think so," he said as their fingers interlocked.
"Good," Lance said. "Because we decided that we, as a group, are officially happy for you. Like, statement on the website official."
"Yup!" Justin said, nodding his head up and down.
"And," Joey said. "Lance and I promise to hit Justin repeatedly about the head and stomach area if he asks any more stupid or inappropriate questions."
"Hey!"
Joey grabbed Justin around the neck. "Oh, quit your bitching. It's your turn to say something nice and supportive."
"Oh...ummm...hmmm."
Joey rolled his eyes. "Is that the best you can do?"
"Well. You and Lance took all the good ones."
"It's okay," Chris smiled. "We get the point." He stood up. "Now, let's get out of the bathroom and go finish breakfast."
JC grabbed him around the waist as their three friends exited. He kissed Chris lightly of the ear. "998,873," he whispered.
Chris smiled. "Dork," he whispered back.